AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
adamjackson (500) – Canaan, USA – JUL 30, 2012
A – Nice carbonation psst as I open the bottle which is always a great sign. No head formed. Poured a viscous pitch black into the glass. Midnight black with some motor oil sort of texture. Nice alcohol legs on the swirl.
S – I can smell the bourbon from 2 feet away which is always a great sign. Big burning bourbon scent up close. Hints of vanilla and campfire. Some roasted malts
T – More licorice than the 2011 and 2010 I sampled. Lots of up front licorice. Hint of cardboard taste. The bourbon takes over and coats the tongue with charred oak, vanilla and the finish is all raisins and caramel. On a second sip, I get this hint of pure cane syrup like molasses that my family makes back home.
M – 25% carbonation. heavy body. Boozy burn on the back of the throat and to the chest. The oaky bourbon taste with vanilla sticks around for a while.
O – I’ve had vintages ’07 and 09-11. Each of them are very delicious. This is a delectable beer that I would enjoy more often if only it was more readily available. The licorice in this bottle was more pronounced than any other vintage I’ve had and yes, it’s a turn off. I’m rating this one purely on all I’ve had and thus will ignore this on this one bottle. This is an excellent well-balanced beer that is exceptional in every way.
